O'er fea and land: him Satan thus accosts.
Uriel, for thou of those seven Spi'rits that stand In fight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, 655 The first art wont his great authentic will Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring, Where all his fons thy embaffy attend ; And here art likelieft by fupreme decree Like honor to obtain, and as his eye To vifit oft this new creation round; Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favor, him for whom
All these his works fo wondrous he ordain'd,
Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wand'ring. Brighteft Seraph, tell
In which of all these fhining orbs hath Man
His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none,
But all these fhining orbs his choice to dwell;
That I may find him, and with secret gaze
On whom the great Creator hath bestow'd
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces pour'd;
That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The univerfal Maker we may praise;
Who juftly hath driv'n out his rebel foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair that lofs
Created this new happy race of Men
To ferve him better: wife are all his ways.
So fpake the falfe diffembler unperceiv'd;
For neither Man nor Angel can difcern
Hypocrify, the only' evil that walks
Invifible, except to God alone,
By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth: 685
And oft, though wisdom wake, fufpicion fleeps
At wisdom's gate, and to fimplicity
Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil'd
Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held
The sharpeft-fighted Spi'rit of all in Heaven;
Who to the fraudulent impoftor foul
In his uprightness answer thus return'd.
Fair Angel, thy defire, which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to glorify
The great Work-master, leads to no excess
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise
The more it seems excefs, that led thee hither
From thy empyreal manfion thus alone,
To witness with thine eyes what fome perhaps
Contented with report hear only' in Heaven:
For wonderful indeed are all his works,
Pleasant to know, and worthieft to be all
Had in remembrance always with delight.
But what created mind can comprehend
Their number, or the wisdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid their caufes deep?
I faw when at his word the formless mass,
This world's material mold, came to a heap:
Confufion heard his voice, and wild uproar
Stood rul'd, ftood vaft infinitude confin'd;
Till at his fecond bidding darkness fled,
Light fhone, and order from diforder sprung:
Swift to their several quarters hasted then
The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire;
And this ethereal quinteffence of Heaven
Flew upward, fpirited with various forms,
That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars
Numberlefs, as thou feest, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course;
The reft in circuit walls this universe.
Look downward on that globe, whose hither fide
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;
That place is Earth the feat of Man, that light
His day, which else as th' other hemisphere
Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring moon
(So call that opposite fair star) her aid
Timely' interpofes, and her monthly round
Still ending, ftill renewing, through mid Heaven,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform
Hence fills and empties to inlighten the Earth,
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point is Paradise,
Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bower.
Thy way thou canst not mifs, me mine requires. 735
Thus faid, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low,
As to fuperior Spi'rits is wont in Heaven,
Where honor due and reverence none neglects,
Took leave, and tow'ard the coaft of earth beneath,
Down from th' ecliptic, fped with hop'd fuccefs, 740
Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel,
Nor ftay'd, till on Niphates' top he lights.
THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK.
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